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This article presents results obtained for the chipless cutting of wood using different cutting heads. Wood processing in forestry and the demand for firewood are currently increasing, so it is necessary to apply appropriate tools to the existing process, which will be sufficient for fast and highquality operations. Four groups of cutting knives were used for experimental measurements, where the influence of the cutting knife edge on the cutting process was determined. The cutting knives were always made of the same material and with the same blade angle - 30°. Measurements were made on spruce (Picea abies), beech (Fagus sylvatica), and willow (Salix caprea) trees. The size of the Fc cutting force was selected as the monitored variable, and then the dependent factors (kind of wood, wood diameter, cutting knife) were monitored in terms of their influence on the size of this Fc cutting force and thus also on the energy consumption. Based on the statistical evaluation, the most suitable shape of the cutting edge of the knife was selected, with this shape of the cutting edge, a reduction in the cutting force Fc was achieved for selected woods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first step in trait introgression is to identify and assess novel sources of variation. For shrub willow (Salix) breeders, there is an abundance of understudied species within a genus that readily hybridizes. Breeding targets in shrub willow center on traits contributing to biomass yield for bioenergy. These include stem biomass, insect and pathogen resistance, and leaf architecture traits. More specifically, breeding for durable resistance to willow leaf rust (Melampsora spp.) is of particular importance as the pathogen can significantly reduce biomass yields in commercial production. The Salix F1 hybrid common parent population (Salix F1 HCP) was created to characterize the variation among eight species‐hybrid families and map QTL for targeted traits. A female and male S. purpurea were used as common parents in crosses made to male S. suchowensis, S. viminalis, S. koriyanagi, and S. udensis and female S. viminalis, S. integra, S. suchowensis to produce eight families that were planted in field trials at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY and phenotyped. Using 16 previously described parental backcross linkage maps and two newly generated S. purpurea consensus maps, we identified 215 QTL across all eight families and in every parent. These included 15 leaf rust severity, 61 herbivory, 65 leaf architecture, and 74 yield component QTL, resulting in 50 unique overlapping regions within the population. These genetic loci serve as an important foundation for future shrub willow breeding, and each interspecific family was identified as a novel source of useful alleles for trait introgression into high yielding cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of different concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) stress on physiological parameters, as well as the uptake and removal of 2,4-DNP in Salix matsudana, were investigated using hydroponic simulation experiments to explore the potential of the use of Salix matsudana in the phytoremediation of wastewater polluted by 2,4-DNP. The results showed that PN (net photosynthetic rate), Tr (transpiration rate), Gs (stomatal conductance), Ls (stomatal limitation value), Fv/Fm (maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry), and qp (photochemical quenching coefficient) of Salix matsudana seedlings showed an overall decreasing trend, while Ci (intercellular CO2 concentration) showed an increasing trend with the increase in 2,4-DNP concentration. The net photosynthetic rate and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration showed an opposite trend in the leaves with the increase in 2,4-DNP stress concentration, and the inhibition of net photosynthesis by 2,4-DNP on Salix matsudana seedlings was mainly based on non-stomatal factors. In the 15 d incubation experiment, the values of SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase), and CAT (catalase) indexes were higher at low concentrations of 2,4-DNP stress, and all three enzymes reached their maximum values at 10 mg L−1 of 2,4-DNP and then decreased. Salix matsudana seedlings could tolerate 2,4-DNP stress well, which did not exceed 20 mg L−1. The toxicity of 2,4-DNP solution was significantly reduced after purification by Salix matsudana seedlings. The removal rate of 2,4-DNP was higher than 80% in each treatment group by Salix matsudana purified after 15 days. When the concentration of 2,4-DNP reached 20 mg L−1, the contents of MDA (malonicdialdehyde) were 55.62 mmol g−1, and the values of REC (relative conductivity) and LD (leaf damage) were 63.51% and 59.93%, respectively. The structure and function of the cell membrane in leaves were seriously damaged. With the increase in 2,4-DNP concentration, the removal of 2,4-DNP by Salix matsudana seedlings showed a decreasing trend. When the 2,4-DNP concentration was 5 mg L−1, the highest removal rate of 2,4-DNP by Salix matsudana seedlings was 95.98%, while when the 2,4-DNP concentration was 20 mg L−1, the highest removal rate was 86.76%. It is noted that the suitable, recommended concentration for the phytoremediation of 2,4-DNP contamination by Salix matsudana seedlings is between 8.81 and 13.78 mg L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass from willow and poplar harvested for feed during the growing season may be preserved by ensiling; however, little research has focused on ensiling of these biomasses. This study focuses on the use of ensiling additives to reduce the pH to around 4.0 to secure stable storage. Lab-scale ensiling experiments were conducted with different willow and poplar clones, shoot ages, and harvest times (June or September). Ensiling without additives often resulted in limited pH reduction. The pH could be reduced in the biomass of both species by adding formic acid, and the required dose to reduce the pH to 4.0 (buffering capacity, BC) ranged significantly between biomass types but was in the range of 2–5 kg formic acid (78%) per ton fresh weight. BC decreased with increasing dry matter (DM) content and decreasing crude protein content. The pH could also be reduced during ensiling by applying molasses and/or lactic acid bacteria, although not sufficiently in poplar. Willow biomass was ensiled effectively at the pilot scale with less than 7% DM loss by adding formic acid or by mixing with grass biomass. Comparable pH results were obtained at the lab scale and pilot scale. The study demonstrates how willow and poplar can be ensiled; however, more research is needed on quality changes during ensiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to enhance salicin and direct regeneration in willow (Salix safsaf Forssk) using the sodium nitroprusside (SNP) regulation of nitric oxide (NO) and vinasse for its nutrition effect in culture medium. Internodes of Salix safsaf were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyl adenine (BA) (0.25 mg L−1) and different concentrations of SNP (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg L−1) or vinasse (0, 5, 10, and 20%) to examine shoot regeneration, antioxidant defense enzyme activity, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and salicine contents. The reported data revealed that application of SNP at 15 mg L−1 and vinasse at 10% induced a significant effect in vitro Salix safsaf shoot regeneration. To confirm that, nitric oxide is required for auxin-mediated activation of cell division in a dose-dependent manner. A concentration of 15 mg L−1 SNP promotes regeneration and salicin accumulation (3162.16 mg/100 g) during signaling action. On the other hand, the cross talk effect of nitric oxide and vinasse combination in Salix safsaf significantly induced a synergistic effect on direct propagation more than vinasse alone. SNP significantly stimulates salicylate accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, but the data on the association of vinasse and SNP on salicylate up-regulation showed a significant reduction in salicin accumulation when SNP was combined with 10% vinasse, which directly affected the signaling action of SNP as secondary product stimulators. Vinasse's phenolic compounds affect directly on the reduction activity of SNP to suppress its signaling action, or indirectly by inhibiting the sequence cascade of the SNP signaling transduction process to decrease the accumulation of salicin contents. Data confirmed that vinasse and SNP stimulated the antioxidant enzymes activity throw quenching the stimulated reactive oxygen species that produced via SNP. Results show that modified media with SNP administration at 15 mg L−1 and the combination of vinasse at 10% and SNP at 15 mg L−1 are recommended for modifying tissue culture media for induced direct regeneration and salicin accumulation in tissue culture applications, which will be very useful for commercial salicin overproduction as a biological active ingredient in willows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Willow forests are well established as nature-based solutions contributing to flood protection in the riverine environment. With climate change, storm surges in winter may increasingly expose downstream floodplain forests to seawater pulses. The effects of seawater pulses on willows are unknown, as previous studies focused on long-term exposure effects. (2) Methods: We studied the resilience of the floodplain forest foundation species Salix alba L. to seawater pulses during winter. This corresponds to the effects of storm surges in the North Sea region on floodplain willow trees in downstream river stretches during their dormant stage. Seawater pulses were applied from November to May on vegetative propagules. The plants were placed on flooding stairways at three levels in a mesocosm experiment under ambient conditions in Zealand, NL. (3) Results: Twice-applied 48 h seawater pulses during winter led to increasing salinity in the soil where vegetative propagules were placed. Ninety-five percent of the plants developed leaves, shoots, and roots, and juvenile trees were established in the following spring. Although the aboveground and belowground dry masses decreased with increasing short-term seawater flooding, they increased from April to May. (4) Conclusions: The seawater pulse caused a growth-delaying effect in the young experimental propagation plants of Salix alba. Contrary to earlier findings on the growth-inhibiting effects on S. alba under long-term salinity treatments, we show that S. alba is resilient to short-term seawater pulses experienced during the dormant (winter) stage. This is good news for the inclusion of S. alba in nature-based flood defense schemes in downstream riverine stretches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many mountain species are expected to respond to climate change through upslope shifts of their range limits, but competition may restrict or alter this response. Under traditional range‐limit theory, it is expected that lower‐elevation species are better competitors than closely related higher‐elevation species. However, recent work finds that this prediction is often unmet. We investigated evidence for the impact of competition during breeding season on the elevational range limits of a pair of closely related bird species, willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus and rock ptarmigan L. muta, in mainland Norway. The species share overlapping ranges that loosely divide slightly upslope from the treeline ecotone, with willow ptarmigan generally occupying lower sites and rock ptarmigan occupying higher sites. We used multi‐species occupancy models to test four competing hypotheses for how competition may affect the range limit between willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan: 1) asymmetric competition that restricts the lower range limit of rock ptarmigan; 2) asymmetric competition that restricts the upper range limit of willow ptarmigan; 3) condition‐specific competition that restricts both species' range limits; and 4) range limits unaffected by competition. We found evidence for a negative pairwise interaction between the two species. Changes in interaction strength along the elevation gradient suggested evidence for condition‐specific competition. However, a strong positive correlation between rock ptarmigan and higher‐elevation habitat resulted in a highly asymmetric outcome, where the upper range limit of willow ptarmigan was restricted but rock ptarmigan occupancy was fairly independent of willow ptarmigan. This outcome is opposite to the prediction of traditional range‐limit theory and may suggest a greater climate threat to willow ptarmigan than has been previously projected. Thus, our results demonstrate the importance of considering biotic interactions at both the higher and lower ends of species' range limits along elevation gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arboriculture provides opportunities for assessing long-term tree-environment interactions. We assessed the surrounding context, scars, re-sprouts, and absolute width-growth of twenty-four Salix fragilis trees pollarded by the grandfather, father, and son of one family covering 120 years, quantifying the effects of cut, microorganism-infection, and body-accumulated photosynthate on the pollards' resprout-and-growth. We determined pollard diameter, age, scars-number (C) and basal area (CAB), median times pruned (Cmn), putrid holes number (H), cumulative length (HL), and length-average (HAV), and two indicators of remaining photosynthate (Q, and QAV). Response variables were number of re-sprouts (RN), re-sprout-basal area (RAB), and trunk's Absolute Growth (AG; Classic (MLR), and Bayesian Multiple Linear Regressions (BMLR)). The pollards experienced similar incoming light, water, CO2, nutrients, and temperatures. Higher C-values for 40-year-old pollards produced higher H-values (Linear Regression, R2 = 0.54, p = 0.02; Bayesian Linear Regression: BF10 = 3.79, n = 8) suggesting more infection when cutting. RN slightly changed in response to life-long accumulated CAB, Cmn, H, and HAV (BMLR, BF10 from 1.10 to 2.82, n = 24). RAB slightly changed responding to C, H, HAV, Q, and QAV (BMLR, BF10 = 1.11; MLR: p < 0.05, n = 24). AG declined in response to Cmn (MLR, R2 = 0.38, p < 0.001, n = 24). Thus, under favourable conditions severely wounded-and-infected trees keep re-sprouting and growing, even if growth is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the studies devoted to the consequences of the Kakhovka dam destruction on June 6, 2023 in the course of the Russia-Ukraine war are presented. After the accident, the Kakhovske reservoir, which was the largest by volume on the Dnipro River, practically disappeared. It has turned into the network of river branches and lakes that do not compare with the former reservoir. Currently, the conditions on the territory of the former reservoir have approached those observed in natural conditions. To some extent, they depend on the water discharge of the Dnipro River, more exactly, on the water discharge of the Dnipro HPP located upstream. In the conditions of large water runoff, the large part of the former Kakhovske reservoir is covered with water. An unusual natural phenomenon of the area of the former reservoir is very rapid overgrowth, primarily by willow. A year after the accident, its height in places which is rich in organic sediments exceeded 4 meters. At the same time, the size of the trees on the bottom covered by sands is much smaller. Today, a large area of the former reservoir looks like a dense forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in shrub height, biomass and canopy cover are key whole‐plant features of warming‐induced vegetation change in tundra. We investigated leaf functional traits underlying photosynthetic capacity of Arctic shrub species, particularly its main limiting processes such as mesophyll conductance. In this nutrient‐limited ecosystem, we expect leaf nitrogen concentration to be the main limiting factor for photosynthesis. We measured the net photosynthetic rate at saturated light (Asat) in three Salix species throughout a glacial valley in High‐Arctic tundra and used a causal approach to test relationships between leaf stomatal and mesophyll conductances (gsc, gm), carboxylation capacity (Vcmax), nitrogen and phosphorus concentration (Narea, Parea) and leaf mass ratio (LMA). Arctic Salix species showed no difference in Asat compared to a global data set, while being characterized by higher Narea, Parea and LMA. Vcmax, gsc and gm independently increased Asat, with Vcmax as its main limitation. We highlighted a nitrogen‐influenced pathway for increasing photosynthesis in the two prostrate mesic habitat species. In contrast, the erect wetland habitat Salix richardsonii mainly increased Asat with increasing gsc. Overall, our study revealed high photosynthetic capacities of Arctic Salix species but contrasting regulatory pathways that may influence shrub ability to respond to environmental changes in High Arctic tundra. Summary statement: The photosynthetic capacity and limitations in Arctic shrubs revealing contrasting adaptations among Salix species that may influence their ability to provide negative carbon feedback to the atmosphere in high‐Arctic tundra, despite their similar photosynthetic rate compared to a global data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Willow is a promising biomass resource for addressing the challenges of securing stable domestic biomass fuels in Japan and utilising abandoned agricultural land. Among the willow species, Salix pet-susu Kimura KKD (known as ezonokinu willow, EW) stands out for its growth, high production, storage stability, production stability, and business stability. Previous studies have investigated fuel characterisation through gasification (co-gasification) of various biomass mixtures to enhance feedstock flexibility for gasifier commercialisation. However, the synergistic effects of co-gasification using fuels containing EW blended with Japanese cedar, a commonly planted forest species in Japan, remain unexplored. Therefore, this study explored CO2 co-gasification with different blend ratios of EW/cedar blended char and evaluated the fuel characteristics for each blend ratio to elucidate the synergistic effects. The prepared char samples were utilised in the CO2 gasification test with TG-DTA as the analyser. The results suggest that in the initial stages of the willow/cedar blended char co-gasification reaction, pore size and specific surface area significantly influence the reaction rate. Subsequent stages of the reaction are influenced by the promoting and inhibiting effects of inorganic components, which impact co-gasification. The synergy factor results for the willow/cedar blended char co-gasification suggest a reaction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidization presents an unusual challenge for species with sex chromosomes, as it can lead to complex combinations of sex chromosomes that disrupt reproductive development. This is particularly true for allopolyploidization between species with different sex chromosome systems. Here, we assemble haplotype-resolved chromosome-level genomes of a female allotetraploid weeping willow (Salix babylonica) and a male diploid S. dunnii. We show that weeping willow arose from crosses between a female ancestor from the Salix-clade, which has XY sex chromosomes on chromosome 7, and a male ancestor from the Vetrix-clade, which has ancestral XY sex chromosomes on chromosome 15. We find that weeping willow has one pair of sex chromosomes, ZW on chromosome 15, that derived from the ancestral XY sex chromosomes in the male ancestor of the Vetrix-clade. Moreover, the ancestral 7X chromosomes from the female ancestor of the Salix-clade have reverted to autosomal inheritance. Duplicated intact ARR17-like genes on the four homologous chromosomes 19 likely have contributed to the maintenance of dioecy during polyploidization and sex chromosome turnover. Taken together, our results suggest the rapid evolution and reversion of sex chromosomes following allopolyploidization in weeping willow. How different parental sex chromosome systems affect allopolyploidization is yet unknown. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of a female allotetraploid weeping willow (Salix babylonica) and a male diploid S. dunnii, and explore the transition from XY system to ZW system following allopolyploidization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants employ diverse anti-herbivore defences that can covary to form syndromes consisting of multiple traits. Such syndromes are hypothesized to impact herbivores more than individual defences. We studied 16 species of lowland willows occurring in central Europe and explored if their chemical and physical traits form detectable syndromes. We tested for phylogenetic trends in the syndromes and explored whether three herbivore guilds (i.e., generalist leaf-chewers, specialist leaf-chewers, and gallers) are affected more by the detected syndromes or individual traits. The recovered syndromes showed low phylogenetic signal and were mainly defined by investment in concentration, richness, or uniqueness of structurally related phenolic metabolites. Resource acquisition traits or inducible volatile organic compounds exhibited a limited correlation with the syndromes. Individual traits composing the syndromes showed various correlations to the assemblages of herbivores from the three studied guilds. In turn, we found some support for the hypothesis that defence syndromes are composed of traits that provide defence against various herbivores. However, individual traits rather than trait syndromes explained more variation for all studied herbivore assemblages. The detected negative correlations between various phenolics suggest that investment trade-offs may occur primarily among plant metabolites with shared metabolic pathways that may compete for their precursors. Moreover, several traits characterizing the recovered syndromes play additional roles in willows other than defence from herbivory. Taken together, our findings suggest that the detected syndromes did not solely evolve as an anti-herbivore defence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all species in the genus Salix (willow) are dioecious and willows have variable sex-determining systems, the role of this variation in maintaining species barriers is relatively untested. We first analyzed the sex determination systems (SDS) of two species, Salix cardiophylla and Salix interior , whose positions in the Salix phylogeny make them important for understanding a sex chromosome turnover that has been detected in their relatives, and that changed the system from male (XX/XY) to female (ZW/ZZ) heterogamety. We show that both species have male heterogamety, with sex-linked regions (SLRs) on chromosome 15 (termed a 15XY system). The SLRs occupy 21.3% and 22.8% of the entire reference chromosome, respectively. By constructing phylogenetic trees, we determined the phylogenetic positions of all the species with known SDSs. Reconstruction of ancestral SDS character states revealed that the 15XY system is likely the ancestral state in willows. Turnovers of 15XY to 15ZW and 15XY to 7XY likely contributed to early speciation in Salix and gave rise to major groups of the Vetrix and Salix clades. Finally, we tested introgression among species in the phylogenetic trees based on both autosomes and SLRs separately. Frequent introgression was observed among species with 15XY, 15ZW, and 7XY on autosomes, in contrast to the SLR datasets, which showed less introgression, and in particular no gene flow between 15ZW and 7XY species. We argue that, although SDS turnovers in willow speciation may not create complete reproductive barriers, the evolution of SLRs plays important roles in preventing introgression and maintaining species boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salix sand barriers have been widely used in arid and semi‐arid regions of northern China as an environmentally friendly approach to control wind erosion. However, the inherent variability in length and thickness of Salix branches complicates achieving the desired fence porosity, typically resulting in an error of approximately 10% or more. This defect affects the fence's wind protection, thereby limiting their broader application. To address these challenges, we conducted a field experiment in the Hobq Desert, where we established Salix fences with porosities of 23%, 37%, and 44%, and measured the airflow velocities around these fences. The results indicated that the fence with 37% porosity exhibited the most effective sheltering effect, providing a protection distance up to 7.14 times of the fence height. A total of 44% porosity fences are also reasonably effective for practical purposes. On the other end of the spectrum, fences with 23% porosity demonstrated a better sediment interception than its high porosity peers, achieving an interception rate of 81.46%. Therefore, we conclude that organic fences made from Salix branches can serve as efficient windbreaks. Our findings provide foundational data for the application of organic fences in arid and semi‐arid regions of northern China, and potentially similar environments globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) is recognized as an emerging contaminant due to its high toxicity and poor biodegradability, posing a threat to animals, plants, and human health. The efficient removal of 2,4-DNP remains a challenging issue in phytoremediation research, particularly because of its toxic effects on plants. To address this, a hydroponic simulation experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of adding exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the tolerance and purification capabilities of Salix matsudana Koidz (S. matsudana) seedlings exposed to 2,4-DNP. The results indicated that the addition of exogenous MeJA mitigated the damage caused by 2,4-DNP to S. matsudana seedlings by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reducing excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), lowering membrane lipid peroxidation, and minimizing membrane damage. Notably, the most effective alleviation was observed with the addition of 50 mg·L–1 MeJA. Furthermore, exogenous MeJA helped maintain the biomass indices of S. matsudana seedlings under 2,4-DNP stress and increased the removal efficiency of 2,4-DNP by these seedlings. Specifically, the addition of 50 mg·L–1 MeJA resulted in a removal percentage of 79.57%, which was 11.88% higher than that achieved with 2,4-DNP treatment. In conclusion, exogenous MeJA can improve the plant resistance and enhance 2,4-DNP phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study illustrated that Salixalba can accumulate high level of Pb and Cd in different plant parts, with maximum accumulation in roots followed by stem and leaves in the order Cd > Pb > Cd + Pb. The phytoremediation evaluation factors such as bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) was higher for Cd over Pb in all plant parts, further the BCF for both Pb and Cd was maximum in root (BCF > 1) followed by stem and leaves. Higher accumulation of Cd over the Pb was observed inside the plant tissues due to Cd mimics with other elements and gets transported through respective transporters. The combined treatment of Pb and Cd affected the bioaccumulation at every treatment level suggesting the negative effect among both elements. Higher survival rate (>85%) was recorded up to 200mgPb/kg and 15mgCd/kg, while further increase in metal concentration reduced the plant efficiency to remediate contaminated soils, hence results in declined survival rate. The FTIR analysis revealed that Pb and Cd accumulation in plants induced changes in carboxy, amino, hydroxyl and phosphate groups that ultimately caused alteration in physiological and biochemical processes of plant and thus provided an insight to the interaction, binding and accumulation of heavy metals. The present study conferred that Salix alba is a heavy metal (Pb and Cd) excluder plant on the basis of phytoremediation efficiency evaluation factors such BCF >1 (root) and TF <1. The correlation studies suggested the negative correlation among Pb and Cd accumulation and morphological traits. Physiological studies indicated that Pb and Cd accumulation negatively affect chlorophyll concentration and the antioxidant mechanism of plants gets activated, further these results are confirmed with FTIR studies, which reported the alteration in functional groups and associated compounds in plant tissues under Pb and Cd stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to ascertain the growth, biomass, and phytoremediation capacity of poplars and willow cultivated using wastewater in a hydroponic system. The cuttings were exposed to two water treatments for eight weeks: (1) tap water supply with 1/4 strength Hoagland's solution (TW) as a control and (2) urban raw wastewater with 1/4 strength Hoagland's solution (WW) in a completely randomized experimental design and growth parameters and nutrient and heavy metal content distribution in various plant tissues were assessed. Our results suggest that compared with the TW, seven studied species/clones revealed an increase in growth and biomass parameters (stem height by 16.4%, and root, shoot, and total biomass by 37.3%, 26.9%, and 29.3%, respectively) caused by WW treatment, except the root length and stem diameter that remained the same under two water treatments. Poplars and willow showed a remarkable variability in growth and biomass parameters, with the highest stem diameter, stem height, and root, shoot, and total biomass in Populus nigra L. 62.154. Expression of growth responses to WW treatment with tolerance indices (Tis) indicated the tested poplars and willow as highly tolerant (Ti >100%) with no significant differences among them based on this index. Plant analysis showed that WW treatment increased the concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals in the shoots and roots. Overall, under both water treatments, the capability of the tested species/clones to uptake and accumulate micro-nutrients (except copper (Cu) in shoots) and heavy metals (except chromium (Cr) in shoots) in the plant tissues varied noticeably. However, for all tested plants, the roots had higher concentrations of micro-nutrients (iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and Cu concentrations in the roots were about 36.8%, 107.6%, and 30.1% of that in the shoots, respectively) and heavy metals (nickel (Ni), Cr, and lead (Pb) concentrations in the roots were about 115.3%, 344.2%, and 198.9% of that in the shoots, respectively), suggesting their capability for micro-nutrients and heavy metals rhizofiltration. Concerning obtained results under hydroponic culture, it can be concluded that these poplars and willow might be promising candidates for wastewater applications. However, data obtained by a hydroponic system need to be confirmed in pot and field experiments. There are limited studies on the reactions of Salicaceae plants in a wastewater hydroponic system. This research can be considerable for preliminary evaluation of Salicaceae plants to estimate their effectiveness in contaminated soils. Furthermore, the growth, biomass, and phytoremediation responses of Salicaceae plants differ to wastewater application, so this work is important to evaluate the responses of seven different poplar and willow species/clones to municipal wastewater application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Salix species occurring in Finland have not been well studied for their antimicrobial potential, despite their frequent use for lung and stomach problems in traditional medicine. Thus, twig extracts of three species of Salix that are found naturally in Finland and one cultivated species were screened for their antimicrobial properties against human pathogenic bacteria. S. starkeana and S. x pendulina were screened for antibacterial effects for the first time. (2) Methods: An agar diffusion and a microplate method were used for the screenings. Time-kill effects were measured using a plate-count and a microplate method. A DPPH-method using a qualitative TLC-analysis was used to detect antioxidant compounds in antimicrobial extracts. Metabolites from a S. myrsinifolia extract showing good antibacterial effects were identified using UPLC/QTOF-MS. (3) Results: A methanol extract of S. starkeana was particularly active against B. cereus (MIC 625 µg/mL), and a methanol extract of S. myrsinifolia showed good activity against S. aureus and B. cereus (MIC 1250 µg/mL) and showed bactericidal effects during a 24 h incubation of B. cereus. Moreover, a decoction of S. myrsinifolia resulted in good growth inhibition against P. aeruginosa. Our UPLC/QTOF-MS results indicated that proanthocyanidins (PAs), and especially the dimer procyanidin B1 (m/z 577) and other procyanidin derivatives, including highly polymerized proanthocyanidins, were abundant in S. myrsinifolia methanol extracts. Procyanidin B1 and its monomer catechin, as well as taxifolin and p-hydroxycinnamic acid, all present in S. myrsinifolia twigs, effectively inhibited B. cereus (MIC 250 µg/mL). (4) Conclusions: This study indicates that Finnish Salix species contain an abundance of antibacterial condensed tannins, phenolic acids and other polyphenols that deserve further research for the antibacterial mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in migratory behavior have been suggested to drive speciation, but the genetics underlying this process remain unknown. Identification and study of migratory divides can help us understand how differential migration can lead to reproductive isolation. Here, we genotyped Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus, from the Åland islands, located in between the ranges of the differentially migrating subspecies P. t. trochilus and P. t. acredula. We found that Willow Warblers on the Åland islands were genetically intermediate to allopatric populations of both parental subspecies, providing evidence that the islands constitute a previously unknown hybrid swarm, likely to be a migratory divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goat willow (Salix caprea L.) is an ecologically important, cold-tolerant pioneer species that spreads from central Anatolia to Black Sea regions in Türkiye. Completed and ongoing construction of hydroelectric plants, especially in northeastern Türkiye, threaten the genetic resources of goat willow in the region due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Therefore, it is important to assess genetic diversity structure and magnitude of goat willow populations in the northeastern Black Sea Region for effective conservation and utilization of genetic resources of the species. To characterize the genetic diversity of goat willow, 180 trees were sampled from 5 river systems and screened by using ten microsatellite markers for genotyping, consequently analysis were carried out to estimate population genetic diversity parameters of populations. The results revealed that both observed (Ho = 0.50) and expected (He = 0.53) genetic diversities were low, but observed genetic diversity was less than expected due fragmentation and reduction in population sizes. Genetic structure analysis of populations suggested the presence of three major groups. This structuring appeared to be caused by the restricted gene flow (pollen, seed or vegetative material) through insects, wind and water due to geographical barrier (the east Black Sea mountain ranges) acting as geographic isolation mechanism between the populations of the Çoruh river and the river systems located in the west of Çoruh river. To prevent further deterioration of genetic diversity due to habitat loss and fragmentation in the studied river systems in the region, we suggest that one population with high genetic diversity, unique alleles and low inbreeding from each genetic structure cluster should be designated as in situ conservation sites. The genetic resources from such in situ designated populations will facilitate future efficient restoration, genetic resource management and utilization works with the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: The huge diversity of Salix subgenus Chamaetia/Vetrix clade in North America and the lack of phylogenetic resolution within this clade has presented a difficult but fascinating challenge for taxonomists to resolve. Here we tested the existing taxonomic classification with molecular tools. Methods: In this study, 132 samples representing 46 species from 22 described sections of shrub willows from the United States and Canada were analyzed and combined with 67 samples from Eurasia. The ploidy levels of the samples were determined using flow cytometry and nQuire. Sequences were produced using a RAD sequencing approach and subsequently analyzed with ipyrad, then used for phylogenetic reconstructions (RAxML, SplitsTree), dating analyses (BEAST, SNAPPER), and character evolution analyses of 14 selected morphological traits (Mesquite). Results: The RAD sequencing approach allowed the production of a well‐resolved phylogeny of shrub willows. The resulting tree showed an exclusively North American (NA) clade in sister position to a Eurasian clade, which included some North American endemics. The NA clade began to diversify in the Miocene. Polyploid species appeared in each observed clade. Character evolution analyses revealed that adaptive traits such as habit and adaxial nectaries evolved multiple times independently. Conclusions: The diversity in shrub willows was shaped by an evolutionary radiation in North America. Most species were monophyletic, but the existing sectional classification could not be supported by molecular data. Nevertheless, monophyletic lineages share several morphological characters, which might be useful in the revision of the taxonomic classification of shrub willows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially explicit prioritization of invasive species control is a complex issue, requiring consideration of trade‐offs between immediate and future benefits. This study aimed to prioritize management efforts to account for current and future threats from widespread invasions and examine the strength of the trade‐off between these different management goals. As a case study, we identified spatially explicit management priorities for the widespread invasion of introduced willow into riparian and wetland habitats across a 102,145‐km2 region in eastern Australia. In addition to targeting places where willow threatens biodiversity now, a second set of management goals was to limit reinfestation and further spread that could occur via two different mechanisms (downstream and by wind). A model of likely willow distribution across the region was combined with spatial data for biodiversity (native vegetation, threatened species and communities), ecological conditions, management costs, and two potential dispersal layers. We used systematic conservation planning software (Zonation) to prioritize where willow management should be focussed across more than 100,000 catchments for a range of different scenarios that reflected different weights between management goals. For willow invasion, we found that we could prioritize willow management to reduce the future threat of dispersal downstream with little reduction in the protection of biodiversity. However, accounting for future threats from wind dispersal resulted in a stronger trade‐off with protection of threatened biodiversity. The strongest trade‐off was observed when both dispersal mechanisms were considered together. This study shows that considering current and future goals together offers the potential to substantially improve conservation outcomes for invasive species management. Our approach also informs land managers about the relative trade‐offs among different management goals under different control scenarios, helping to make management decisions more transparent. This approach can be used for other widespread invasive species to help improve invasive species management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree species Salix caprea shows high adaptability to different habitat conditions and is economically valuable as a woody crop for biomass production. Moreover, S. caprea is dependent on mycorrhizal fungi, which are crucial for its growth and adaptability in different environments. Hence, this study explores the ectomycorrhizal diversity of S. caprea by utilizing the taxonomy (morphotyping and a molecular approach using the ITS and LSU regions) and trait diversity (exploration types) at two test sites in Germany and Poland. In total, 19 ectomycorrhizal (EM) morphotypes of S. caprea were characterized. Seven taxa were identified at the species level (Hebeloma populinum, Cortinarius atrocoerulaeus, Inocybe hirtella, Laccaria cf. ochropurpurea, Tuber maculatum, Cenococcum geophilum, and Phialophora finlandia) and twelve at the genus level (Tomentella spp. 1–8, Hebeloma sp. 1, Inocybe sp. 1, and Tuber spp. 1–2). The EM colonization ranged from 14 to 28% of the fine root tips. At both test sites, the largest portion of the total EM colonization consisted of Thelephoraceae. The exploration types were classified as medium-distance smooth (Tomentella sp. 1–8 and L. ochropurpurea) and medium-distance fringe (C. atrocoerulaeus), while the other taxa were short-distance exploration types, highlighting their potential functional role in the adaptation and growth of S. caprea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, the nomenclature of the former 'Salix fragilis' complex was revised; as a result, the pure species Salix euxina Belayeva was described. Over the past ten years, these changes have been ignored by a number of authors (both in Latvia and abroad), and only some authors have used all the names within this complex according to nomenclatural changes introduced by Belayeva. In the context of these taxonomic changes, the official Latvian normative documents (regulations) were analysed in regard to the species Salix alba, S. euxina and S. ×fragilis (=Salix ×rubens).Unfortunately, the taxon S. euxina is not recognised at the official level in Latvia, but the name 'S. fragilis' is widely used, referring more to the S. euxina; and S. ×rubens for the S. alba/euxina hybrid complex. Given that plant taxonomy is studied by experienced scientists rather than political organisations, in theory, politicians who lay down national laws and regulations as well as scientists should follow reasoned and justified changes in plant taxonomy. In case of the former S. fragilis complex, these taxonomic changes are also confirmed by genetic studies, which gives an even greater justification for their validity. Therefore, there is no reason to ignore these taxonomic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pollution of soil by heavy metals, particularly Cd, is constitutes a critical international environmental concern. Willow species are renowned for their efficacy in the phytoremediation of heavy metals owing to their high Cd absorption rate and rapid growth. However, the mechanisms underlying microbial regulation for high- and low-accumulating willow species remain poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the responses of soil and rhizosphere microbial communities to high- and low-Cd-accumulating willows and Cd contamination. We analyzed soil properties were analyzed in bulk soil (SM) and rhizosphere soil (RM) planted with high-accumulating (H) and low-accumulating (L) willow species. Results: Rhizosphere soil for different willow species had more NH4+ than that of bulk soil, and RM-H soil had more than RM-L had. The available phosphorus content was greater in hyper-accumulated species than it was in lower-accumulated species, especially in RM-H. Genome sequencing of bacterial and fungal communities showed that RM-L exhibited the highest bacterial diversity, whereas RM-H displayed the greatest richness than the other groups. SM-L exhibited the highest diversity and richness of fungal communities. Ralstonia emerged as the predominant bacterium in RM-H, whereas Basidiomycota and Cercozoa were the most enriched fungi in SM-H. Annotation of the N and C metabolism pathways revealed differential patterns: expression levels of NRT2, NarB, nirA, nirD, nrfA, and nosZ were highest in RM-H, demonstrating the effects of NO3-and N on the high accumulation of Cd in RM-H. The annotated genes associated with C metabolism indicated a preference for the tricarboxylic pathway in RM-H, whereas the hydroxypropionate-hydroxybutyrate cycle was implicated in C sequestration in SM-L. Conclusions: These contribute to elucidation of the mechanism underlying high Cd accumulation in willows, particularly in respect of the roles of microbes and N and C utilization. This will provide valuable insights for repairing polluted soil using N and employing organic acids to improve heavy metal remediation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riparian woody plant communities, including shrubs and trees, are essential for maintaining biodiversity, protecting against floods, reducing erosion, and transporting nutrients. However, these habitats are greatly threatened by human activities, particularly agricultural land acquisition, and the introduction of invasive species. This study examined species diversity and interspecific association in riparian woody plant communities along rivers in the Romanian Carpathians. The study focused on communities of Salix purpurea, S. alba, and Hippophaë rhamnoides in mountain regions, with varying sampling efforts at different sites for each species. A total of 174 plant species were found, predominantly herbaceous (77.9%), followed by trees (11.6%) and shrubs (10.5%). While S. alba and S. purpurea communities show high species richness and abundance, S. alba has slightly higher diversity (H′ ≈ 2.23, SD = 0.28) than S. purpurea (H′ ≈ 1.69, SD = 0.42). Contrarily, significant differences exist between H. rhamnoides and S. alba communities in species richness (p =.007) and Shannon diversity (p =.004). PCA analysis elaborated on distinct distribution patterns of plant associations within habitats S. purpurea community, H. rhamnoides community, and S. alba community. Four invasive species (Oenothera biennis L. and Oxalis stricta L. in S. alba communities, Reynoutria sachalinensis Nakai in both S. purpurea and H. rhamnoides communities, and Erigeron canadensis L. in H. rhamnoides communities) were identified, as requiring conservation efforts. Hemicryptophytes dominate species richness, while microphanerophytes and megaphanerophytes significantly contribute to plant abundance. H. rhamnoides formed Hippophaë rhamnoides dunes (2160) Natura 2000 habitat, while S. alba created galleries within the 92A0 Salix alba and Populus alba habitat. In conclusion, the findings from this study highlight the importance of preserving riparian habitats because their value goes beyond local or regional considerations and extends to the global scale due to their unique characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy resources such as biomass are crucial for a sustainable global society. Trees are a major source of lignocellulosic biomass, which can vary in response to different environmental factors owing to epigenetic regulation, such as DNA C‐methylation. To investigate the effects of DNA methylation on plant development and wood formation, and its impacts on gene expression, with a focus on secondary cell wall (SCW)‐associated genes, Salix purpurea plantlets were cloned from buds derived from a single hybrid tree for both treatment and control conditions. For the treatment condition, buds were exposed to 50 μM zebularine in vitro and a combined strategy of whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA‐seq was employed to examine the methylome and transcriptome profiles of different tissues collected at various time points under both conditions. Transcriptomic and methylome data revealed that most of the promoter and gene body demethylation had no marked effects on the expression profiles of genes. Nevertheless, gene expression tended to decrease with the increased methylation levels of genes with highly methylated promoters. Results indicated that demethylation is less evident in centromeric regions and sex chromosomes. Promoters of secondary cell wall‐associated genes, such as 4‐coumarate‐CoA ligase‐like and Rac‐like GTP‐binding protein RHO, were differentially methylated in the secondary xylem samples collected from two‐month potted treated plants compared to control samples. Our results provide novel insights into DNA methylation and gene expression landscapes and a basis for investigating the epigenetic regulation of wood formation in S. purpurea as a model plant for bioenergy species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of bioproduct feedstocks such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and willow (Salix spp.) on degraded lands provides an opportunity to grow dedicated bioenergy crops with the potential to capture and store carbon in the soil while reducing competition with land for food production. However, how the production of these crops alters plant–soil–microbe interactions that govern soil C accumulation in highly degraded soil is underexplored. The objectives of this study were to examine select biological and chemical properties related to stable soil organic matter (SOM) production from the growth of switchgrass and willow on marginal soil over two growing seasons and whether biochar amendment can positively affect these parameters. To address our objectives, paired former surface mined lands and non‐mine impacted marginal agriculture sites were selected across West Virginia, USA, and biochar and unamended control treatments were imposed. Through the first two growing seasons, microbial activity and demand for carbon (C) increased and was accompanied by a shift in extracellular enzyme investment for decomposition‐associated enzymes. Mineral‐associated organic matter C increased over the two growing seasons, and this increase was greater in the mine sites compared to the agriculture sites. Compared to each site's previous land use, C losses were observed under bioproduct systems in the agriculture, but not the mine sites. Biochar amendments did not impact microbial activity but did increase the C:N of SOM. Overall, our results suggest that the early growth of switchgrass and willow can result in C accumulation in marginal and highly degraded lands. Core Ideas: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and willow (Salix spp.) can be produced for bioproducts on highly degraded soil.Microbial demand for carbon (C) increased, while C inputs from the crops were variable over the first two growing seasons.Short‐term C losses were observed as compared to the previous land usein the agriculture, but not the reclaimed mine sites.There is potential for carbon accumulation in Appalachian reclaimed mine and marginal agriculture soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modification of food webs is a frequent cause of shifts in ecosystem states that resist reversal when the food web is restored to its original condition. We used the restoration of the large carnivore guild including gray wolves (Canis lupis), cougars (Felis concolor), and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) to the northern range of Yellowstone National Park as a model system to understand how ecosystems might resist reconfiguration after the restoration of apex predators to the food web. The absence of wolves, cougars, and grizzly bears for nearly a century from the northern range was the primary cause of dramatic changes in riparian plant communities. Willows (Salix spp.) were suppressed in height by intense browsing by the dominant herbivore, elk (Cervus canadensis). The loss of activity by beavers (Castor canadensis) coincided with the loss of tall willows. We hypothesized that intense elk browsing interrupted the mutualism between willow and beavers: ecosystem engineering by beavers was a critical component of willow habitat and tall willows were a critical component of habitat for beavers. This interruption made riparian communities resilient to the disturbance caused by the restoration of apex predators. We hypothesized further that reductions in elk browsing attributable to reductions in elk population size were not sufficient to prevent the suppression of willow growth. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a 20‐year, factorial experiment that crossed simulated beaver dams with the exclusion of browsing. We found that willows grew to heights expected for restored communities only in the presence of dams and reduced browsing. Willows experiencing ambient conditions remained well below this expectation. We found no difference in heights or growth rates of willows in experimental controls and willows in 21 randomly chosen sites, confirming that the results of the experiment were representative of range‐wide conditions. A reorganized community of large herbivores was implicated in the suppression of willow growth. We conclude that the restoration of large carnivores to the food web failed to restore riparian plant communities on Yellowstone's northern range, supporting the hypothesis that this ecosystem is in an alternative stable state caused primarily by the extirpation of apex predators during the early 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a critical role in environmental sensing and data transmission. However, their performances are often hindered by challenges like localization accuracy and storage capacity. Existing variants of DV-Hop algorithm suffer from issues like high memory usage, low localization accuracy, and limited applicability in realistic three-dimensional (3D) environments. To overcome these challenges and solve the localization problem for DV-Hop based WSN nodes in 3D space, this research proposes a novel hybrid optimizer called PCWCO (Parallel Compact Willow Catkin Optimization Algorithm). The PCWCO algorithm incorporates compact technique and a new parallel strategy into the Willow Catkin Optimization (WCO) framework, aiming to reduce memory usage while enhancing solution quality. Rigorous numerical validations are conducted using benchmark functions from the CEC2017 to assess the performance of the proposed PCWCO optimizer. The results demonstrate that PCWCO exhibits competitive performance compared to classical intelligent optimization algorithms. Moreover, we synergistically integrate the PCWCO algorithm with DV-Hop to form a hybrid approach called PCWCO-3D-DV-Hop to facilitate the localization efficiency of WSN nodes in 3D space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studied the biomechanical properties of salix root sampled from arid and semi-arid regions of China. The damage law of root in the process of stretching was analyzed by acoustic emission technique. The fractal dimension of root failure section was calculated by digital image processing technology. The results show that salix root tensile strength and ultimate elongation decreases with the diameter increasing, while ultimate tensile resistance and diameter are positively correlated. Damage variable characterized by cumulative AE energy can not only help research the rule of root damage quantitatively, but also allows determining the critical elongation when root became inactive. The optimal mining depth values are proposed, which enable reduction of ground surface deformation, elimination of root system damage, protection of planting on ground surface and, thus, decrease of possibility of bench convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid biomass can be used for energy generation and the production of various renewable bioproducts. The aim of this study was to determine the yield and characteristics of wood obtained as debarking residue from 14 genotypes of short-rotation woody crops (SRWCs). These included five Populus genotypes, one Robinia genotype, and eight Salix genotypes, harvested in both annual and quadrennial cycles. The results showed that the highest dry wood yield (12.42 Mg ha−1 y−1 DM) and yield energy value (244.34 GJ ha−1 y−1) were obtained from willow (cultivar Żubr) harvested in a quadrennial cycle. The best effect among the poplar genotypes was achieved for the Hybryda275, and it was particularly marked in the quadrennial harvest cycle. The poorest results were determined for black locust. The Robinia characteristics included the significantly lowest moisture content (31.6%), which was a positive attribute from the energy point of view, but, on the other hand, it had some adverse characteristics—the highest levels of sulfur (0.033% DM), nitrogen (0.38% DM), and ash (0.69% DM). More beneficial properties in this respect were determined for willow and poplar wood. Moreover, willow and poplar wood contained more cellulose—51.8 and 50.0% DM, respectively—compared with black locust. Extending the SRWC shoot harvest cycle from annual to quadrennial resulted in an increase in cellulose, lignin, and carbon, higher heating value, and a decrease in nitrogen, sulfur, ash, and moisture content. Therefore, extending the harvest cycle improved the parameters of SRWC wood as an energy feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky, is a serious wood borer of hardwood trees in North America, Europe, and China, causing substantial economic and ecological losses. Several ALB management strategies have been applied; however, certain drawbacks have been identified with these strategies. To explore effective and environmentally sustainable management options, we investigated the biological characteristics of ALB, including the distribution of frass and emergence holes on trees and preferred branches for ALB foraging and ovipositing. The results showed that 76.31–78.88% of frass holes and 85.08–87.93% of emergence holes were located above a height of 200 cm. Adults showed a preference for feeding on branches 2–3 cm in diameter, and eggs were predominantly laid on 5 cm branches, primarily located above a height of 200 cm. These findings suggest a correlation between the number of ALBs and the height of the tree crown. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether the number of ALBs decreased when the tree crown was removed above 200 cm (high trunk truncation, HTT). The results revealed a significant decrease in the number after the implementation of HTT. Based on our results we advocate for HTT as an effective ALB management strategy, offering valuable insights into the development of a sustainable approach to controlling the number of ALBs. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) causes substantial economic and ecological losses, thus, an environmentally friendly management strategy is needed. Here, we propose high trunk truncation (HTT), the removal of the above 200 cm portion of trees, as a sustainable management strategy to control ALB. To examine the hypothesis, an initial step involved the assessment of various biological characteristics of ALB. Subsequently, a controlled field experiment was carried out utilizing HTT. Finally, HTT was applied in two additional ALB infestation regions. The results of the study of the biological characteristics of ALB showed that 76.31–78.88% of frass holes and 85.08–87.93% of emergence holes were located on branches above 200 cm. Adults preferred to feed on branches 2–3 cm in diameter, ALB eggs were predominantly laid on 5 cm branches, and both were primarily located above 200 cm. These results revealed a correlation between the number of ALBs and the tree crown height. The controlled field experiment showed that the number of ALBs was significantly decreased when the HTT strategy was implemented: approximately 90% of frass holes and 95% of adults were eradicated by HTT compared with the control. Different field surveys involving HTT have shown similar results. These findings provide valuable insights into a sustainable and efficient management strategy for reducing the number of ALBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present research aims to evaluate the economic effects of the application of the technical knowledge of the production of transgenic (genetically modified) potatoes resistant to willow pest in the potato fields of ten major potato producing provinces as the potato fields of the whole country. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the economic surplus analysis was used to evaluate the potential economic benefits of applying the technical knowledge of producing transgenic potato resistant to potato willow pest in the country's potato fields. Findings: Based on the findings of the research, the internal rate of return (IRR) of the cultivation of transgenic potato seeds resistant to willow pest in the country's potato fields is 97%, the benefit cost ratio is greater than one and equal to 41.4, and the net present value of its benefits is also predicted to be about 497 billion Rials. Conclusion: The findings show that investing in research projects resulting in this technical knowledge is economically justifiable and its application is expected to increase the economic and social benefits of producers, consumers and food security while reducing yield damage and the cost of potato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of willow forest decline in the Jarama River has been assessed through the study of morphological river conditions in three periods (1956, 1998 and 2018) together with active channel mobility ratios and changes in channel planform and vegetation coverage. Species composition of current riparian corridors at river segment scale and monitored natural recruitment of pioneer species at local scale have been studied. Jarama River has changed from wide active wandering towards narrower meandering channels with dense and continuous riparian over-greening corridors, in which willow formations are threatened, and drought-tolerant species have colonised it. Landform evolution shows an intensive 'maturation' associated with 'anthropisation' processes during the first period, while stability dominates nowadays. Results show a generalised aging and progressive mortality of shrub willows and the expansion of forests dominated by Fraxinus angustifolia, likely associated to the progressive reduction of channel mobility and the lack of bare gravel bars for pioneer recruitment. The dominant willow species is Salix salviifolia, a drought tolerant willow that has been able to withstand the processes of 'maturation' and channel narrowing being widely distributed throughout the riparian section. On the other hand, other strict pioneer willows such as Salix eleagnos and Salix purpurea are very rare and are found in the few gravel banks that remain on the shore. Results predict a gradual disappearance of willows in the Jarama River as there is no significant recruitment, and they would last as long if those old specimens may survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants in riparian areas are well known for their beneficial functions such as providing biodiverse habitats, maintaining water quality, and stabilizing streambanks. However, riparian plants are declining in semi-arid environments due to long-term drought, a decline in groundwater table, and an increase in soil salinity. A new technique using clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) as a wicking material with minimum artificial irrigation to grow desert willow [Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet] under field conditions is introduced; desert willow is native to riparian regions of the southwestern United States. For this study's experiment, desert willow seedlings were planted in boreholes filled with clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) as a substrate and in situ riparian sandy loam soil (RS) as a control. The boreholes extended to the groundwater table at two distinctive depths, shallow (avg. depth = 1.21 m) and deep (avg. depth = 2.14 m). The plants' viability was then assessed by measuring their midday water potential (Ψmd) as an indicator of water stress. There was no significant difference in Ψmd (p > 0.05) between the plants grown in CZ and RS (mean Ψmd = −0.91 vs. −0.81 MPa) where the groundwater was shallow and a significant difference (mean Ψmd = −0.75 vs. −2.03 MPa) where the groundwater was deep. The proposed method is promising as an alternative method for growing desert willow or other plants for riparian rehabilitation with no artificial irrigation. However, its effectiveness depends on groundwater being accessible at the base of the boreholes used for planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microtubules, polymerized from α-tubulin (TUA) and β-tubulin (TUB) monomers, play a pivotal role in shaping plant morphogenesis according to developmental and environmental cues. Salix psammophila C. Wang & C. Y. Yang is an important shrub plant in sand-fixing afforestation in arid regions, with three significantly distinct plant types shaped under various environments, namely, upright, intermediate, and scattered types. However, how tubulin genes respond to the developmental and environmental signs in S. psammophila has been far less studied. Here, based on RNA-seq, Sanger sequencing, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) data, we analyzed the phylogeny of tubulins and their expression profiles in S. psammophila among the three plant types. Furthermore, we analyzed the genetic structure and expression pattern of SpsTUB10 in S. psammophila under various abiotic stress treatments. In total, we identified 26 SpsTubulin genes in S. psammophila. The homologous alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these SpsTubulin genes can be classified into two groups, corresponding to the TUA and TUB genes. The expression profiles of these SpsTubulin genes in various organs showed that most SpsTubulin genes were mainly expressed in the root. SpsTUB10 is a member of the TUB IIa group, consisting of two intros and three exons. The SpsTUB10 protein contains a typical GTPase domain and a C-terminal domain, with α-helix and random coil dominant in the secondary and tertiary structures. The RT-PCR results of SpsTUB10 showed an extremely significant difference in expression levels among the root and stem-developing organs between the upright and scattered types, and the transcript level of SpsTUB10 had a significantly negative correlation with the crown-height ratio. Under different treatments, we found that cold, osmotic stress, and short daylight could significantly increase SpsTUB10 expression levels compared to those in the controls, thereby supporting the positive role of SpsTUB10 in stress-induced responses. These results will provide evidence for the SpsTubulin genes' response to the developmental and environmental cues in S. psammophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are a class of small molecular weight soluble proteins. In the past few years, OBPs had been found to work as carriers of ligands and play a crucial role in olfaction and various other physiological processes, like immunity. A subset of insect OBPs had been found to be expressed differently and play a function in immunity of fungal infection. However, there are few studies on the role of OBPs in immunity of bacterial infection. Methods: To identify the immune-related OBPs of Plagiodera versicolora after infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we determined the mortality of P. versicolora to P. aeruginosa and selected the time point of 50% mortality of larvae to collect samples for RNA-seq. RNAi technology was used to investigate the function of immune-related OBPs after P. aeruginosa infection. Results: RNA-seq data shows that PverOBP18 gene significantly up-regulated by 1.8-fold and further RT-qPCR affirmed its expression. Developmental expression profile showed that the expression of PverOBP18 was highest in the pupae, followed by the female adults, and lower in the 1st-3rd larvae and male adults with lowest in eggs. Tissue expression profiling showed that PverOBP18 was dominantly expressed in the epidermis. RNAi knockdown of PverOBP18 significantly reduced the expression of bacterial recognition receptor gene PGRP and antibacterial peptide gene Attacin and reduced the resistance of P. versicolora to P. aeruginosa infection. Conclusion: Our results indicated that PverOBP18 gene increased the pathogen resistance of P. versicolora by cooperating with the immune genes and provided valuable insights into using OBPs as targets to design novel strategies for management of P. versicolora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to establish the local sustainable hydroponics system by unused bioresources, the objective of this study was to evaluate 1) the feasibility of alternative hydroponics substrates that utilized rice husk and willow as biochar by 1-1) cultivation trial and 1-2) estimation of carbon sequestration and 2) the effectiveness of biochar substrates in low irrigation by the cultivation trial. Rice husk char (RHC) and willow char (WC) were tried as substrates in addition to rock wool (RW) as commercial products to grow cherry tomatoes under different water conditions (low irrigation and conventional irrigation). As a result, the water content of RHC and WC was higher than RW under both irrigations. Nevertheless, under both irrigations, RHC and WC showed similar results of RW in the fruit yield and quality (brix value, acidity, and lycopene). While low irrigation treatment decreased the commercial yield, the quality was improved except for lycopene. Besides, these substrates can contribute to carbon sequestration if they were used for soil amendment after using substrates in hydroponics. The refractory carbon contents of RHC and WC were calculated as 35.5, and 67.5 t CO2eq ha, respectively, in this experiment system. Thus, the utilization of unused bioresources as biochar showed the possibility of providing alternative substrates to RW, and the potential of carbon sequestration locally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated concentrations of heavy metals result in soil degradation, a reduction in plant yields, and a lower quality of agricultural products, which directly endangers people, animals, and the ecosystem. The potential of three clones of Salix alba (347, NS 73/6, and B-44) and one genotype of S. viminalis for the phytoextraction of heavy metals was investigated, with the aim of identifying the most physiologically suitable willow genotypes for use in soil phytoremediation. The experiment was placed on the contaminated soil substrate collected in Kolubara Mining Basin (Serbia), enriched by high loads of heavy metal salts, and a control medium. Significant differences in the concentrations of heavy metals were recorded between the contaminated and control plant material, especially when it comes to nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), confirming that S. alba and S. viminalis are hyperaccumulator species of heavy metals. Clone 347 shows the greatest uptake of Cd and chromium (Cr), and clone B-44 takes up these metals only to a lesser extent, while clone NS 73/6 shows a less pronounced uptake of Cr. The roots have the greatest ability to accumulate Ni and Pb, Cu is absorbed by all plant organs, while Cd is absorbed by the leaves. The organ that showed the greatest ability to accumulate heavy metals was the root, which means that willows have a limited power to translocate heavy metals to above-ground organs. The studied genotypes of S. alba have a higher potential for the phytostabilization of Cu and Cd, as well as the phytoextraction of Cd, compared with S. viminalis. The results confirm the assumption of differences between different willow genotypes in terms of the ability to phytoextract certain heavy metals from soil, which is important information when selecting genotypes for soil phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]